Liquid separating apparatus



March 21, 1944.

Filed June 12, 1941 2 'Sheets-Sheet 1 4L .31 :se

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N. I. U B Y n O nl ms/ l T n 951m. n l l 2 R m1 l. t v V w R 0 7,. M 3 m Pl. Wm :4.1. B) EL OY Y 3 7 i JB O .I o ...y fr y2 1,? 7 d S a L o a 3 .B i. O O 3 oo O D O 4 ||Ifl oo |f OO NHV f) o. :Il B A 5 .l O I4! 0b. B l 1,.. (a a O Oo 35 ll l U 0o 42 4 7 f n A. 4. a). a l |nl9 HHN |l|| H a ill .m i .[1 m n s a M I B n# Y Patented Mar. 21, 1h44 LIQUID SEPARATING APPARATUS John P. Rathbun, Pros Westinghouse Electr pany, East Pittsbu'r Pennsylvania pect Park, Pa., assigner to ic &`Manufacturing Comgh, Pa., a corporation of Application June 12, 1941, Serial No. 397,747

1 Claim.

character.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a two-stage separator so arranged that the amount of separation occurring in each stage thereof maybe controlled.

These and other objects are eiiected 'by the invention as will be apparent from the following description and claim taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part cf this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line I-I of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional View taken along the line II-II of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a modification of the invention and is taken along the line III- III of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows; and,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, there is shown at I a two-stage separator adapted for use with various types of apparatus, for

example, an evaporator II, the separator I6 be-A ing positioned adjacent the top of the evaporator, as shown in Fig. 1. The separator I!) comprises an outer case defined by top and bottom walls I2 and I3, respectively, joined by an annular side wall I4. This casing may be secured to the apparatus with which it is used, in this case the shell of the evaporator II, by suitable means, for example, the members I6.

The interior of the casing is divided into rst and second stages A and B, respectively, by an inner annular member l1 extending from the top wall I2 to the bottom Wall I3. Preferably, the outer annular wall I4 and the inner annular member I1 are concentrically disposed.

Within the space constituting the rst stage A there is disposed a directing and separating member I8 in the form of an annular wall concentric with and spaced slightly from the outer annular wall I4 and defining therebetween an annular space IS for downward flow of liquid. A similar annular directing and separating member 2| is positioned within the space defining the second stage B, in concentric and spaced relation to the inner annular member Il, and defines (Cl. 18S-84) therebteween a space 22 for ow of liquid. The annular directing and separating members I8 and 2l are provided with a large number of openings 24 and 25, respectively, for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

The lower edges of the annular separating members I8 and 2| terminate in spaced relation to the bottom wall I3 of the outer casing and have associated therewith bottom closures 27 and 28, respectively, extending radially inwardly from the lower edges thereof to the annular members i7 and IE5, respectively. The closure members 21 and 28, in cooperation with the bottom wall I3 of the outer casing, provide therebetween iiuid co1- lection spaces 29 and 3i), respectively, the collection space 29 being in communication with the space I9 and the collection space 3|) being in communication with the space 22. The spaces 2Q and 30 are provided with liquid discharge openings 3I and 32, respectively.

Passages are provided yfor the flow of fluid to the rst stage A of the separator and are defined :by vertical side wall members 36 and 3l and bottom members 38, the top of the passages being dened by the topwall I2 of the separator casing. Preferably, these passages are so arranged that the fluid passing therethrough enters the space A substantially tangentially to the annular directing and separating member I8.

In like manner, passages 40 are provided for the flow of fluid from the first stage A to the second stage B, these passages being deiined by vertical side wall members 4| and 42, a bottom member 43 and the top wall I2 of the separator casing. Preferably, these passages 4S also provide for tangential entry of huid to the second stage B.

Tangential entry of the fluid to the various stages of the separator provides for circular or spiral ow of the fluid through the apparatus. To further this objective, there is provided at the center of the second stage B a concentrically positioned structure comprising an annular Wall 45, closed at its top by suitable means, such as the plate 46. An outlet 4l is provided from the top of the second stage B to the exterior of the separator.

In operation, huid, for example steam, containing particles of liquid passes through the openings 35 to the first stage A of the separator, where it passes circumferentially or spirally along the inner surface of the perforated member I8 with the result that centrifugal force causes the particles of moisture or liquid carried thereby to be thrown radially outwardly through the per forations 24, the liquid passing downwardly in the space |9 to the collection space 29, and the steam continuing through the openings 40 to the second stage B of the separator where the separating action is repeated as the steam passes spirally or circumferentially along the inner surface of the perforated annular member 2| and the moisture thrown out of the stream of uid and through the perforations 25 by centrifugal force passes downwardly in the space 22 to the collection chamber 30. The fluid from which the liquid has been removed exhausts through the discharge opening 41.

It will be noted that the construction assures that steam passing to the second stage B is drawn from the innermost portionv of the first stage A, where the liquid content of the steam is lowest'. Thus, the driest possible steam is discharged from the separator.

While under some conditions it may be satisfactory to have the two liquid collection chambers 29 and 30 in communication or formed as a single chamber with a single outlet, it is frequently preferable to make use of the separated construction herein illustrated and to provide independent liquid exhaust conduits 48 and 491 for the discharge openings 3| andv 32, respectively. In this arrangement the conduits 48 and 49 are provided with valves 50 and 5|, respectively, whereby the flow of liquid and/or gas therethrough may be regulated. With such an arrangement, and with the conduits 48 and 49 in communication with a region of lower pressure than that existing within the separator, the relative amounts of separation performed by each stage of the separator may be controlled, thereby obtaining maximum efficiency of the separator as a whole.

In Figs. 3 and 4 there is illustrated a further modification of the invention wherein the structure is substantially similar to that of Figs. l. and 2 except that only one stage is provided instead of two. In this modification there is shown a separator comprising a top wall |0| and a bottom wall |02 joined by an annular side Wall |03. An inner annular perforated member |04 is arranged interiorly of and concentric to the annular side wall member |03, and is spaced therefrom to provide a liquid flow space |01 in communication with a liquid collection space I3, the latter having an outlet H4. A horizontal plate |06 cooperates with the lower edge of the inner annular member |04 to prevent by-pass of steam or other fluid about the lower edge of the perforated member.

A plurality of passages |08, defined by side Walls |09 and IIIJ- and bottom and top walls and H2, respectively, provide for admission of fluid tangentially of the perforated annular plate |04. The operation of this separator is similar to that of the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the iiuid entering through the passages |08 and flowing spirally or circumferentially of the inner surface of the perforated annular member |04. Centrifugal action causes moisture carried by the fluid to be thrown out through the perforations |05 Where it flows through the space |01 to the liquid collection space ||3. An inner cylindrical member H6, disposed concentrically with respect to the annular members |03 and |04, and provided with a cap or top closure aids inrmaintainingv spiral flow of fluid through the apparatus, the fluid finally exhausting through the outlet H8 at the top of the separator.

Under some conditions of operation, and more particularly in single stage separators, it may be desirable to provide means for preventing undue rise of liquid along the inner surface of the annular separating member |04, and to this end there is illustrated in Fig. 5 an annular lip |20 provided on the inner surface of the annular member |04 adjacent the upper edge thereof to materially limit upward movement of liquid therealong.

While the invention has been shown in several forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications Without departing from the spirit thereof, and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

' A separator for removing liquid from a gaseous fluid; comprising top and bottom walls joined by an annular side wall; horizontal baille structure dividing the space enclosed by said Walls into an upper separating space and a lower liquid-collecting space; a liquid outlet from said collection space at the bottom thereof; a fluid outlet from the separation space through the top wall adjacent the center thereof and spaced radially inward a material distance from said annular side wall; means for delivering gaseous fluid to the separation space with a whirling movement, the annular side wall serving to direct and maintain the whirling movement of the fluid and having a plurality of perforations therethrough for discharge of liquid therethrough by centrifugal force acting on the whirling iiuid; and means for conducting the discharged liquid to the liquid collection space.

JOI-IN P. RATHBUN. 

